Atlantis resurrected with Farmar help

Text and photo: Sveinung W. Jensen, Tellus Kommunikasjon

- "Are you ready?" asks Odd Vik from the bridge.

- Okay, I'll give it a go," he continues.

The engine starts on the first try. But the experienced engineer is not entirely satisfied.

- Hmm ... I don't like this.

- Does it look okay down there? Do you see any other places where the lubricating oil is leaking?" he asks over the walkie-talkie.

BUT THE ENGINES is too noisy to hear the answer from Sten Langøy, who is crawling around down in the engine room. The ceiling height down there is so low that even a five-year-old would struggle to stand upright.

- "This is not a job for young people," jokes Odd, who is the oldest man at Farmar's workshop in Lundevågen in Farsund.

DE FLESTE know the myth of Atlantis, a legendary society first mentioned by the Greek philosopher Plato that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa. The story goes that Atlantis disappeared into the sea over the course of a day and a night.

This was also the case with the fishing boat Atlantis. It broke down and sank. But the vessel was quickly raised. It is now owned by the Fjord Academy Foundation, which is trying to get it going again.

- Atlantis was transported here by boat. The plan is for it to leave Farsund under its own power," says workshop manager Ronny Christoffersen.

FARMARS machinists have replaced several engine parts and electricians have finished connecting the electrical system. In total, four men have been at work.

- Our task is to get it ready so that it can sail up to Fredrikstad without assistance. But there's still a lot of work to be done before it's fully restored. It's not easy to fix a boat that's been at the bottom of the sea," says Christoffersen.

THE FOUNDATION The Fjord Academy, which owns the boat, has been set up to manage shared sea areas in a holistic and sustainable way.

According to its website, the foundation works to "create values that have a long-term positive effect on marine nature, local communities and business development".